Local radio gives liberal talk the business (Air America gone from Atlanta)

Creative Loafing.com ^ | 7/12/06 | ALYSSA ABKOWITZ

[LdSentinal]

Air America has signed off in Atlanta, with few immediate prospects for finding a new home.

J.W. Broadcasting, which purchased the Atlanta affiliate that broadcast Air America, has launched a business talk format on WCFO-AM 1160. "After doing some research, I realized [Atlanta] was the only top 10 radio market without a business talk station," says Jeff Davis, vice president/general manager for J.W. Broadcasting. "It was needed."

The decision comes as a letdown for local liberal listeners and Air America execs. Until J.W. Broadcasting purchased its second area station in late January, the 1690 dial had served as the home of Air America, the only liberal AM talk radio in a market saturated by conservative talk show hosts such as Neal Boortz and Laura Ingraham.

J.W. Broadcasting owns two AM frequencies: 1160 and 1690. The company switched its eclectic programming of R&B, jazz and poetry on WMLB from 1160 to 1690 because that frequency has a stronger signal.

Davis told CL in May that they were considering continuing the Air America programming on 1160. In the end, he says he chose financial programming because 1160's signals are strongest in Cobb and Gwinnett counties, where left-leaning programming wouldn't suit the mostly conservative crowd. "The Republican business types are out there," Davis says. "If we carried Air America, we'd get nothing but complaints."

Meanwhile, Jon Sinton, the president of Air America who happens to live in Marietta, says he's continuing to shop Air America around the Atlanta area. He says J.W. Broadcasting continues to broadcast Al Franken on WMLB 1690 dial in the afternoons, and that he's received numerous calls and e-mails asking for Air America to come back.

"The outcry for [Air America] has been very gratifying," Sinton says. "We're talking to some other people to see what we can do."

[gondramB]

They were the air in Atlanta before now?

I never noticed.

[Carl LaFong]

1690?--isn't that the frequency where fish depth finders operate?

[Drango]

The decision comes as a letdown for local liberal listeners

They still have NPR.

[Lancey Howard]

....And NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Pee Wee's Playhouse, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer....

[Bob]

"If we carried Air America, we'd get nothing but complaints."

Probably not but, then again, you wouldn't get many listeners either.

[jimbo123]

Air America gets dropped from their NYC affiliate on August 31st.

[Boundless]

> ... comes as a letdown for local liberal listeners and ...

Typo. Should be:
"... for the one local liberal listener ..."

Which was the ultimate problem.

[Gordongekko909]

And they get replaced by, of all things, business news. I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth of all the Atlanta DUmmies from where I am.

[eric_da_grate]

Tick...tick....tick....

[crghill]

This is just so cool!

[AD from SpringBay]

So where are the remaining bastions of Air America?

[Gay State Conservative]

1690?--isn't that the frequency where fish depth finders operate?

As Carlin said in his old radio DJ skit..."1690 on your dial,kids..just above the police calls".

[reagan_fanatic]

"Ha ha!"

[CheyennePress]

And they get replaced by, of all things, business news. I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth of all the Atlanta DUmmies from where I am.

Ah, yes. The corporations are taking over, huh?

[Gordongekko909]

That's what the DUmmies will be screaming. "Corporate censorship!"

[hatfieldmccoy]

Meanwhile, Jon Sinton, the president of Air America who happens to live in Marietta, says he's continuing to shop Air America around the Atlanta area. He says J.W. Broadcasting continues to broadcast Al Franken on WMLB 1690 dial in the afternoons, and that he's received numerous calls and e-mails asking for Air America to come back.

Hmmm.. numerous-- 2 emails from earthgirl@peace.tv and tofu.tutu@straightgay.confused.net plus 2 calls from people with animal names and his mother.

[Tanniker Smith]

....And NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Pee Wee's Playhouse, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer....

HEY!! I liked PeeWee's Playhouse! You don't need to lump that in there.

[Rocky]

Meanwhile, Jon Sinton, the president of Air America who happens to live in Marietta

Oh, the irony!

[Chode]

HA ha...
and the RATS take another one in the...

[Tall_Texan]

Business talk radio. Isn't that something similar to dying by carbon monoxide? You just drift off to sleep and one day somebody figures out you've passed onto the Big Balance Sheet In The Sky?

I mean, I'm glad Air America has lost another market but at least their listeners probably stayed awake. How exciting can it be to talk about the tax ramifications of second mortgages? I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it.

[Ed Condon]

One bastion is WHMP, 1400 khz , located in Northampton Mass.
( The home of Smith College, a liberal arts wymns school.)
It is simulcast on 1600 khz, in Springfield Mass. using the same
call letters. I believe the station is a 250 watt "coffee grinder".

[Dutch Boy]

Now that is a great example of irony.

[tflabo]

"Air America has signed off in Atlanta, with few immediate prospects for finding a new home."

Ahhh..victims of the 'evil' law of supply and demand.
Maybe Airhead America can shop a liberal tyrant judge to overthrow the decision.....the good ole' liberal way.

[Lewite]

Can't these liberal whores appeal to say United Way for some charity monies. United Way is basically a tool of the dumbocraps. All the folks that vote lock step for Dems here in Alabama feed off the tit of UW.

[Ed Condon]

Corrections to my post. Did a Google search, the station in East Longmeadow, near Springfield has call letters WHNP, and is 3000 watts.

[SamAdams76]

I think that's close to the frequency that baby monitors transmit on. Which does make it hard to tell them apart because you hear nothing but fussing and whining on both channels.

[ClaudiusI]

Who wrote that headline, Wally Cleaver?

[adorno]

...and that he's received numerous calls and e-mails asking for Air America to come back.

All those numerous calls and e-mails came from one person: Al Franken.

[God luvs America]

the mountains of Pakistan.....

[Steely Tom]

I always love the comments from the Air America "spokesman" when they get dropped from one of their "affiliates."

"Todays action was part of a long-range plan, which is on target and proceeding in accordance with our expectations. Air America is signing up new affiliates at a rate much higher than other networks of its type, and we expect to have exciting news for you in the very near future."

[Steely Tom]

I always love the comments from the Air America "spokesman" when they get dropped from one of their "affiliates."

"Todays action was part of a long-range plan, which is on target and proceeding in accordance with our expectations. Air America is signing up new affiliates at a rate much higher than other networks of its type, and we expect to have exciting news for you in the very near future."

[ChadGore]

"If we carried Air America, we'd get nothing but complaints"

[ChildOfThe60s]

Hmmm.. numerous-- 2 emails from earthgirl@peace.tv and tofu.tutu@straightgay.confused.net plus 2 calls from people with animal names and his mother.

Traced the emails back to the Starbucks on NW Peachtree.

[hatfieldmccoy]

perhaps *uckhead ahh I meant Buckhead....

[imahawk]

these people just dont get the fact that their ideas are not mainstream. someone sold them a bill of goods.LOL

[Blue Highway]

Considering the falling away of station willing to support this liberal radio network, you'd think their website would still be supported by the rabid liberals coast to coast, since they do stream most or all of their radio broadcasts from their website. This shows the apathy of Air America. Good for a laugh...

[Blue Highway]

[DennisR]

"He says J.W. Broadcasting continues to broadcast Al Franken..."

Bet he can't cast him very far...Al is definitely above his ideal wresting weight.

[AndyTheBear]

That's an exageration. You owe the other listner an apology.

[AndyTheBear]

...but at least their listeners probably stayed awake.

Maybe not. The couple of times I've tuned into them I've been bored senseless. The on-air "talent" seemed to have no idea how to fill up the hours they were supposed to talk. Painfully pathetic.

[goldstategop]

Atlanta is liberal compared to the rest of Georgia. Apparently Err America can't hold its audience... even in friendly parts of Dixie. Hmmmm.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[AndyTheBear]

Sounds like old Baghdad Bob, doesn't it.

[backhoe]

Atlanta is liberal compared to the rest of Georgia.

( With apologies to the good FReepers, conservatives, and Libertarians still holding forth from Hot-lanta... )

It sure is- some people call it "Chicago, but with a better PR department."

I think of it as the place whose citizens xxxx it up so badly with nepotism, racism, kleptomania, kickbacks, and corruption they can't stand it any longer-- so they move here, and proceed to inflict the same vices on my community.

Kind of like what southern California did to Seattle.

[jmaroneps37]

My reason # 41 why the rat will lose in November:
The crashing and burning of "liberal alternative media."